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Technical Services
Anna Appleman, Columbia Theological Seminary, Acting Secretary

MEMBERS PRESENT

Twenty people attended the online business meeting of the Techni-
cal Services Interest Group, July 23, 2021

AGENDA

1)  The Year in Review
2)  Reports
3)  Steering Committee Elections
4)  Other Business

THE YEAR IN REVIEW

Richard Lammert, Technical Services Interest Group (TSIG) Steering 
Committee chair, reported that TSIG hosted quarterly online collo-
quial conversations during the last year:

• August 2020, “Colloquial Conversation: COVID-19”; with a 
follow-up in September 2020, “A Month into a New School Year 
with COVID-19 Precautions”

• December 2020, “The PCC Wikidata Pilot: What is it, what does it 
have to do with linked data, how does it work, and why should 
you care?” with Christa Strickler, Associate Professor of Library 
Science at Buswell Memorial Library, Wheaton College

• April 2021, “Colloquial Conversation: Quirky Cataloging and 
Rare Books Well Done” with Bro. Andrew Kosmowski, Librar-
ian at the North American Center for Marianist Studies (NACMS) 
and Armin Siedlecki, Head of Cataloging and Rare Book Cata-
loger at the Pitts Theology Library, Emory University



Interest Group Meetings  27

The Steering Committee asked the question, “Do you want us to 
continue quarterly colloquial conversations?” The consensus was 
yes. The Steering Committee will continue to set these up and 
announcements will be posted in various places: the Atla-tech list, 
the Atla newsletter, and the Atla website under Events.

REPORTS

Richard Lammert (Concordia Theological Seminary) reported that 
the SACO Funnel now has two active members and, in the last Atla 
year, produced ten new LC subject headings. Michael Bradford 
(Harvard University) reported the CONSER Funnel statistics for the 
current LC fiscal year to date.

Theology Cataloging Bulletin Update, Christa Strickler (Wheaton College)

Christa Strickler reported that Theological Cataloging Bulletin is 
undergoing a series of changes to expand the scope of the publica-
tion beyond cataloging to incorporate more aspects of technical 
services. The editorial board will also be adding new sections. The 
“Testimony” column is now entitled “Perspectives and Practices.” 
A new title for the publication is being considered. More informa-
tion about the upcoming changes will be announced in the next few 
months. It is anticipated that the changes will occur with the new 
volume in January 2022. The current editorial board is Cindy Snell 
(Columbia International University) as editor-in-chief; the contrib-
uting editors are Anna Appleman (Columbia Theological Seminary) 
and Christa Strickler (Wheaton College).

CC:DA Liaison Report, Donna Wells (Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary)

Donna Wells reported that the CC:DA (ALA Committee on Catalog-
ing: Description and Access) met three times this past year and 
received task force and committee reports. The updated RDA toolkit 
is complete and training is available on YouTube. Upcoming projects 
include redoing romanization tables, updating the NACO partici-
pant’s manual, and preparing modules for proposing subjects. The 
cancellation of the multiples subdivision (“[Buddhism, Christianity, 
etc.]”) under “Religious aspects” is complete. Any new headings will 
need to be proposed individually.



28  A NNUA L Y E A RBOOK

Donna also reported that ALA is doing a major restructuring of all 
of their committees, so the future of CC:DA is yet to be determined.

Atla Funnels Update (NACO/SACO/CONSER), Richard Lammert (Concordia 
Theological Seminary)

Richard Lammert discussed the aging of technical services librarians 
and retirements. The Atla NACO funnel institutions typically have 
only one participant; when that individual leaves due to retirement, 
the new cataloger may not necessarily be hired for NACO capability. 
There is a need for more cooperative participation. One possibility 
is participating in the PCC Wikidata Pilot.

There is opportunity for Atla institutions to become involved in 
SACO. The subdivision “Religious aspects” is not a free-floating subdi-
vision, except under a very few specific categories of headings. The 
subdivision generally needs to be proposed for each new use. This 
alone makes participation in the SACO funnel worthwhile.

STEERING COMMITTEE ELECTIONS

The terms for the Steering Committee positions filled by John Thomp-
son and Anna Appleman are ending. Both are eligible for reelection. 
John is retiring, and is not standing for reelection. Anna is standing 
for reelection. Christina Torbert (University of Mississippi) nomi-
nated Brinna Michael (Emory University) for the open position, 
and Brinna accepted the nomination. Anna Appleman and Brinna 
Michael were elected by acclamation.

Chairman Richard Lammert reported that two steering committee 
member positions will be open next year, since the individuals in 
those positions will have each served two terms.

OTHER BUSINESS

There was no other business for the meeting.



Interest Group Meetings  29

2020–21 GROUP: [pictured, left to right] Richard Lammert, Christina Torbert, 
Leslie Engelson, Jeff Brigham, Lynn Berg, Christa Strickler, Anna Lois Kroll, John 
Thompson, Brinna Michael, Yvonne Myers

CURRENT STEERING COMMITTEE

Richard Lammert (Concordia Theological Seminary), chair—2nd 
term ends 2022

Donna Wells (Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary), vice-
chair—2nd term ends 2022

Bro. Andrew Kosmowski (North American Center for Marianist 
Studies), secretary—1st term ends 2023)

Anna Appleman (Columbia Theological Seminary)—1st term ends 
2021

John Thompson (Waynesburg University)—1st term ends 2021

Christa Strickler (Wheaton College)—1st term ends 2023


